Message From the State Conservationist

Oregon’s vast landscapes provide so much to those of us who live 

and visit here. We rely on them to produce the food, fiber and fuel so 

vital to our everyday lives. But, with proper care and stewardship, our 

landscapes produce so much more - safe drinking water for families, clearflowing streams for fish, opportunities for recreation, scenic vistas, clean 

air and open spaces for wildlife. In our state, over 48,000 square miles of 

those landscapes - an area roughly the size of Mississippi - are owned or 

managed by farmers, ranchers, timber operators and others. 

Americans have long recognized the intrinsic benefits that the public 

receives from providing landowners with assistance to care for natural 

resources. In Oregon, that recognition has translated into a strong 

conservation partnership to support stewardship on private lands. 

At its core are the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural 

Resources Conservation Service, the state’s soil and water conservation 

districts, Resource Conservation and Development councils, the Oregon 

Department of Agriculture, the USDA Farm Service Agency, and 

over 1,100 Earth Team volunteers. Along with other key agricultural, 

environmental and conservation organizations and agencies, this 

partnership provides landowners with both technical assistance and 

funding to help them improve the soil, water, air, plants and wildlife 

habitat on their land. 

In Fiscal Year 2003, we worked with over 19,400 private land managers 

to help them improve natural resources in Oregon. e information that 

follows provides both a showcase of that work and a snapshot of the 

conservation challenges and opportunities we continue to address.

We are proud of our efforts, but we recognize there is much more the 

conservation partnership can achieve in this state. By identifying 

conservation opportunities and reaching beyond our traditional alliances, 

we – together – can ensure that Oregon’s landscapes remain productive 

and beautiful for our children and theirs.

Sincerely, 

BOB GRAHAM 

State Conservationist

1

Table of Contents

3

Message From the State Conservationist.........................................................................1

A Snapshot of Land Use in Oregon

Oregon’s Land Use.........................................................................................................4

Managing Resources for Oregon’s Future

Taking Care of Oregon’s Private Lands......................................................................5

Soil Conservation

Providing Oregon Soils Information .........................................................................6

Conserving Oregon’s Soils...........................................................................................7

Water Quality & Quantity

Improving Oregon’s Water Quality.............................................................................8

Conserving Water in Oregon ......................................................................................9

Monitoring Snowpack, Weather, Climate and Streamflows in Oregon............. 10

Air Quality

Improving Oregon’s Air Quality .............................................................................. 11

Plant Diversity and Conservation

Enhancing Plant Diversity in Oregon..................................................................... 12

Improving the Health of Oregon’s Forestlands...................................................... 13

Enhancing Rangeland Health in Oregon ............................................................... 14

Livestock and Wildlife Health

Improving Resource Management on Feeding Operations in Oregon ............. 15

Improving Wildlife Habitat in Oregon................................................................... 16

Protecting Endangered Species in Oregon............................................................. 17

Sustaining Oregon’s Economy

Contributing to the Sustainability of Oregon’s Rural Communities................. 18

Conservation by the Numbers - Fiscal Year 2003

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)............................................ 19

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)......................................................................... 19

Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) ............................................. 20

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)....................................................... 20

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)......................................................................... 20
Managing Resources for Oregon’s Future

Oregon’s Land Use

In 1997, when the last National Resource Inventory (NRI) 

was completed, non-federal land and water in the state was 

estimated at 30,900,600 acres, or approximately 49 percent of 

the state’s total land area. 

 e NRI is a statistical survey of land 

use and natural resource conditions 

and trends on U.S. nonfederal lands, 

including privately owned land, tribal 

and trust land, and lands controlled by 

state and local governments. 

Between 1977 and 1997, the NRI was conducted every 5 

years. Data is currently being collected annually in order 

to provide decision-makers with timely natural resource 

condition and trend information. NRI data is available online at 

www.or.nrcs.usda.gov.

In Oregon, the largest category of land use on non-federal 

lands in the state is over 12.6 million acres of forestland, which 

amounts to nearly 41 percent of the state’s non-federal lands. 

Rangeland covers almost 9.6 million acres of Oregon, or just 

over 30 percent of the state’s non-federal lands. 

Croplands and Conservation Reserve Program lands account 

for 4.2 million acres, or nearly 14 percent of non-federal lands, 

followed by just under 2 million acres of pastureland and 

845,000 acres of urban lands – 6.3 and 2.7 percent respectively. 

Other rural lands equal 724,000 acres, or 2.3 percent. Oregon 

also has 657,900 acres of large water (2.1%), 377,000 acres of 

rural transportation lands (1.2%), and 162,300 acres of small 

water (0.5%).

A Snapshot of Land Use in Oregon

Non-federal lands make 

up 48,000 square miles of 

Oregon’s landscapes - nearly 

half of the state’s land area.

4
5

Taking Care of Oregon’s Private Lands

As Oregon’s producers look to the conservation partnership 

for assistance in conserving resources on private lands, o en 

they have a vision for what they would like the entire landscape 

of their farm or ranch to look like in the future. NRCS and 

the conservation partnership assist producers in turning that 

vision into reality. Local conservation planners use the newest 

technology available to help landowners make conservation 

decisions that fi t both the landscape and their management style. 

Whether land managers come seeking assistance for one 

resource concern or many, their local conservation planners 

work with them to develop a plan that balances the needs of the 

soil, water, plants, animals, air and humans.  is comprehensive 

plan looks at all resource concerns on the land and provides 

recommendations of various practices and an implementation 

schedule for the landowner. 

Last year, NRCS and the conservation 

partnership helped managers apply 

the practices in these plans on

149,773 acres of forest, crop, range, 

pasture and other lands in the state. 

Conservation planners developed 

plans for an additional 256,706 acres.

Implementing these practices, which 

may include an irrigation pipeline, 

fencing, planting trees or other 

measures, is o en expensive.  e conservation planner also 

helps the individual leverage federal funds with state and private 

dollars for conservation, recommending programs for which 

producers may be eligible to help address resource concerns.

In 2003, t n 2003, the conservation 

partnership helped local land 

managers to develop or apply 

conservation plans to address 

all natural resource concerns on 

635 square miles - an area nearly 

the size of Benton County.

Managing Resources for Oregon’s Future
Providing Oregon Soils Information

Oregon NRCS and its conservation partners have many 

professionals who determine soil types on private and public 

lands throughout the nation.  e information they gather 

is used by contractors and engineers who design and build 

houses, roads, offi ces and other buildings to determine the soil’s 

suitability for structures. Soil surveys are also used by farmers 

to determine what crops to grow on their land and by county 

planners to determine options for zoning in a particular county.

Currently, 35 soil surveys are completed in Oregon and are 

available through the Internet at www.or.nrcs.usda.gov.  ese 

surveys cover over 80 percent of the private lands in the state. 

In addition, NRCS staff have completed maps and descriptions 

for the Common Resource Areas (CRAs) in Oregon - one 

of the fi rst states in the nation to do so.  e information in 

CRAs helps local landowners and conservation professionals 

more accurately address natural resource 

concerns. By using the CRA data, 

conservation planners can more easily 

benchmark resource concerns, fi nalize a 

natural resources inventory and develop a 

conservation plan with land managers.

 e use of CRAs will also help NRCS and its partners to more 

easily document the impacts and the value of conservation 

measures that are applied on the land.

Soil Conservation

Every completed soil survey in 

Oregon has been digitized and 

is available on the Internet at 

www.or.nrcs.usda.gov.

6
Conserving Oregon’s Soils

Soil erosion occurs naturally on most lands. Erosion can reduce 

soil productivity and also has a substantial eff ect on the quality 

of our water and air. Protecting soils throughout Oregon from 

accelerated erosion by wind and water is a primary focus of 

NRCS and its conservation partners. 

In Oregon last year, the conservation partnership assisted land 

managers in applying soil conservation measures on 83,380 

acres.  rough the eff orts of many individuals, 1,045,864 tons 

of soil were conserved on those acres. 

Reducing soil erosion on private lands in the state provides 

numerous benefi ts to those who live here. When soils stay in 

place, air quality improves and streams, rivers and lakes are 

cleaner.  is, in turn, improves habitat for fi sh and wildlife, and 

makes Oregon a cleaner environment in which 

to live, work and recreate.

Landowners and land managers use a variety 

of means to conserve soil. Some implement 

conservation tillage practices, which include 

seeding crops directly into the stubble from the 

previous year’s crop and maintaining organic 

matter on the ground to reduce wind erosion. 

Others add vegetation along streams to hold 

soil in place or use their cropping systems to conserve soil.  is 

may include planting cover crops to protect soils from eroding, 

or planting crops in a rotation that protects the soil from 

erosion while returning vital nutrients for future crops.

 ese and many other methods help to keep soils in place and 

out of Oregon’s streams, rivers and air.

Soil Conservation

e amount of soil that 

was conserved in Oregon 

last year would fill 64,559 

dump trucks stretching 

bumper to bumper from 

Baker City to Astoria.

7
Water Quality & Quantity

To make Oregon’s water cleaner for all 

users, the conservation partnership 

helped over 19,000 l r 19,000 landowners manage 

their land to conserve resources and 

improve water quality last year. 

Improving Oregon’s Water Quality

 e quality of Oregon’s water impacts families, communities, 

wildlife and nearly every industry in the state. Clean, safe 

drinking water is essential for Oregon’s residents, and clean 

water in streams, rivers and lakes is critical for fi sh and wildlife. 

Last year, the conservation partnership helped over 19,000 

land managers conserve resources and improve water 

quality, with the goal of making 

Oregon’s water cleaner for all 

users. Nearly every conservation 

practice that is applied by 

landowners provides a direct 

benefi t to the state’s water quality. 

Reducing soil erosion keeps 

sediment out of the water supply. 

Managing how and where livestock graze reduces the amount 

of soil that enters rivers and streams. Developing off -stream 

drinking water for livestock and wildlife also keeps soils from 

eroding. Managing and reusing animal waste helps to eliminate 

contaminant run-off into streams and rivers. 

In orchard-growing areas along the Columbia River, producers 

are using Integrated Fruit Production techniques to manage 

pests, nutrients and irrigation water. With help from the local 

conservation partnership, producers use data gathered from 

weather stations to manage fruit production and pesticide use 

more effi ciently, while also improving fi sh habitat. 

 e conservation partnership also worked with dairies and 

other confi ned animal feeding operations to manage and utilize 

animal waste, increasing the effi ciency and profi tability of the 

dairy, while eliminating the movement of nutrients into rivers 

and streams.

8
Water Quality & Quantity

e water conserved on-farm 

in Oregon with help from the 

conservation partnership in 

2003 would cover over 7,800 r 7,800 

football fields one foot deep.

Conserving Water in Oregon

 e limited water supplies in Oregon and throughout the West 

are critical for the survival of wildlife and the sustainability 

of many industries.  is results in 

competition for every drop of water from 

many interests - urban, energy, agriculture, 

wildlife, fi sh and recreation, to name a few. 

While that competition is understandable, 

more and more, conservation leaders have 

come to recognize that these interests aren’t 

necessarily at odds with one another. As 

these diff erent entities work together to more effi ciently use 

- and share - the water they need, everyone benefi ts. NRCS 

assists land managers across Oregon to reach that goal, freeing 

up supplies for other users, and for fi sh and wildlife.

 e conservation partnership worked with landowners and 

land managers to conserve water on 23,888 acres last year. 

Overall, 120,700 acre-inches of water (the amount of water 

needed to cover one acre one inch deep) were conserved onfarm in Oregon during that time.

Eff ectively managing irrigation water has helped many 

agricultural producers use less water to produce the same crop 

yields. Converting from a low effi ciency system to one with 

higher water effi ciencies is one way to reduce the amount of 

water used on a farm. New technology also off ers opportunities 

for farmers to reduce water use by timing their water 

application to match the plant’s needs and soil characteristics.

Water conservation can also occur far away from streams and 

rivers. Many individuals use conservation tillage and grazing 

management for livestock to retain water in the soil profi le for 

later release, preventing fl ash fl oods and improving soil health. 

9
Water Quality and Quantity

e weather and climate data 

collected by NRCS plays a critical role 

in the daily management decisions 

of many businesses and government 

agencies including municipalities, 

wildlife managers, agriculturalists and 

power generators.

Monitoring Snowpack, Weather, Climate and 

Streamfl ows in Oregon

 e Oregon NRCS Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting 

Program is responsible for continually monitoring the weather 

and climate conditions in the mountainous areas of Oregon, as 

well as issuing streamfl ow forecasts for most of the state.

 e 2003 water year (October 1, 2002 - September 30, 2003) 

was dry in Oregon.  e maximum snowpack was very poor, 

ranging from only 45 to 79 percent of average, while the 

precipitation was better, ranging from 80 to 97 percent of 

average. Streamfl ows were below average and the September 30 

irrigation reservoir carryover was only 37 percent of average 

with fi ve reservoirs in the state essentially empty.

To collect this data, NRCS operates 56 snow courses, 74 

SNOwTELemetry (SNOTEL) sites, 1 Soil Climate Analysis 

Network (SCAN) site and 33 aerial markers. Last summer, a 

new SNOTEL site was installed in the Umpqua River Basin to 

increase the streamfl ow forecast accuracy. NRCS 

also installed a SCAN site in the Klamath Basin to 

collect data including soil moisture and temperature, 

precipitation, air temperature and numerous other 

weather and climate conditions. 

NRCS issues six monthly Oregon Water Supply 

Outlook Reports between January and June. 

Each report forecasts streamfl ow volumes at 117 

locations. NRCS also publishes 12 monthly Surface 

Water Supply Indices for 14 basins in Oregon. 

 ese reports provide essential snowpack and streamfl ow 

information for water managers.  is data is available online at 

www.or.nrcs.usda.gov.

10
Air Quality

Resource Conservation and 

Development councils are 

working to help producers 

receive ‘carbon credits’ for 

maintaining long-term 

stands of grasses and trees.

Improving Oregon’s Air Quality

 e quality of Oregon’s air has an eff ect on all of its 

residents. Clean air is critical for healthy families and healthy 

communities. 

Oregon’s air quality is aff ected by many factors. Just as 

industries and urban areas have worked to address air quality 

concerns under their control, land managers in rural areas have 

worked for many years to reduce particulates in the air from 

burning, airborne soil, animal feeding operations and other 

potential sources of air pollution.

Last year, the conservation partnership helped 23 dairies apply 

nutrient and waste management plans and develop 68 new 

plans.  ese plans address air quality concerns such as odor, 

greenhouse gases and safe disposal of animal waste. 

In addition to reducing air pollution from existing sources, 

the plants in properly managed agricultural and forest lands 

also help to clean the air. Grasses, trees, crops and shrubs 

convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis. 

 e NRCS, Resource Conservation & 

Development councils and other conservation 

partners are working with state and federal 

agencies and lawmakers to help producers 

earn credits for maintaining long-term stands 

of grasses and trees.  ese ‘carbon credits’ can 

one day be purchased by various industries to 

balance their industrial carbon emissions with 

plants that clean the air. 

 e goal in all of these programs is to ensure 

that Oregon’s air remains clean, both now and for future 

generations.

11
Plant Diversity and Conservation

Over 38 species - including 

all of the listed rare and 

endangered species of the 

Willamette Valley, have been 

established at the Oregon 

Plant Materials Center.

Enhancing Plant Diversity in Oregon

Since 1957, Oregon’s Corvallis NRCS Plant Materials Center 

(PMC) has provided plant assistance for both Western Oregon 

and Washington as well as Northwestern California.  e 

center has developed new technology for low maintenance 

landscaping, native tree and shrub establishment, riparian and 

wetland restoration, soil enhancement and native plant use in 

landscape restoration.

Last year, the plant materials staff implemented a number of 

projects to promote and enhance plant species across their 

service area.  e PMC worked extensively with the Bureau 

of Land Management, Crater Lake National Park, and Mt. 

Rainier National Park to reestablish high quality plants that are 

genetically appropriate to the restoration sites. 

Roemers Fescue is one of the primary native upland prairie 

grasses once found in the Willamette Valley.  is key grass 

variety is now virtually non-existent in 

current valley conditions. In order to 

eff ectively reintroduce the native grass, the 

PMC, in cooperation with the Institute 

for Applied Ecology, collected 47 plant 

populations to evaluate in establishing 

a seed zone map.  is map will help 

to ensure specifi c plant populations are 

identifi ed and used in appropriate areas. 

Addressing the challenges and opportunities of Oregon’s wide 

ranging plant diversity requires the assistance of not only the 

Corvallis PMC, but also centers in Pullman, Washington and 

Aberdeen, Idaho. Together, these Plant Materials Centers work 

eff ectively to ensure that Oregon remains a state full of beauty 

and plant diversity.

12
Improving the Health of Oregon’s Forestlands

Nearly 40 percent of Oregon’s non-federal lands are forested. 

 ese lands provide jobs for Oregonians, habitat for wildlife, 

shade for rivers and streams and recreation for residents and 

visitors alike.

When properly managed, forestlands in Oregon and 

throughout the West are a valuable renewable resource. Last 

year, the conservation partnership worked with managers and 

owners of 4,271 acres of forestlands to improve their forest 

stands, enhance wildlife habitat and prepare the land for 

revegetation.

Proper forest stand improvement provides numerous benefi ts 

to the trees and the surrounding landscape. Conservation 

practices implemented in Oregon have helped to increase the 

quality and quantity of forest products, reduced sediment 

delivery to streams and have regenerated forest stands.  ese 

healthier forest conditions educe the chance of 

damage from wildfi re, pests, and moisture stress.

In addition, conservation practices can restore 

natural plant communities, improve wildlife habitat 

and improve recreational opportunities like hiking, 

camping, skiing and fi shing for all Oregonians.

Last year, land managers in Oregon worked with 

NRCS and the conservation partnership to improve 

Oregon’s forestlands by thinning tree stands to reduce insect 

infestations and improve the health of the remaining trees in 

the stand.  ey also reduced thick stands of low-lying shrubs 

and other plants in the forest. If not managed, these shrubs can 

restrict the growth and water intake of trees, increasing their 

potential for infestation by insects and other pests. 

13

Plant Diversity and Conservation

e conservation 

partnership helped to 

improve forest stands 

and prepare forestlands 

for revegetation on 4,721 n 4,721 

acres in Oregon last year.
14

Plant Diversity and Conservation

e conservation partnership 

worked with land managers 

to improve rangeland health 

on 333,528 range and 

pastureland acres last year.

Enhancing Rangeland Health in Oregon

 ere are 1.44 million cattle and 215,000 sheep in Oregon 

raised on 9.6 million acres of non-federal range and 

pasturelands, as well as in feedlots, dairies and other animal 

feeding operations.

Last year, the Oregon conservation partnership helped 

producers improve the health of 333,528 acres of range and 

pasturelands. When these lands are healthy, wildlife benefi t 

through access to better food supplies and habitat. Water 

quality is also improved because less sediment enters streams 

and rivers.

Many plants on grazing lands throughout Oregon and the West 

grow best when grazed by wildlife and livestock. Much like 

lawn grasses become thicker when they are mowed consistently, 

these plants need to be grazed by livestock and wildlife 

in order to thrive. By managing when and how long 

livestock graze in pastures and on rangelands, land 

managers improve the health of desirable plants, while 

reducing the potential for weeds to spread. 

To improve the health of range and pasturelands 

in Oregon, producers increased the number of 

fences on their land, allowing better management 

of where, when and how long livestock graze in a specifi c 

pasture.  ey also established watering facilities away from 

streams and rivers, encouraging both livestock and wildlife to 

move throughout the landscape, reducing overgrazing near 

natural water sources. Adding mineral blocks to a pasture also 

encourages animals to move across the fi eld in search of salts 

and minerals. All of these practices combine to improve the 

health of the land, reduce weed infestations, improve water 

quality and add to the beauty of Oregon’s landscapes. 
Livestock and Wildlife Health

Oregon’s dairy and feedlot 

operators worked with the 

conservation partnership 

to design and build 23 

waste storage facilities in 

Fiscal Year 2003.

Improving Resource Management on 

Feeding Operations in Oregon

Oregon has 105,000 dairy cattle and 

ranks 21st in milk production in the 

nation. Oregon’s many dairy and 

feedlot managers have taken steps 

to enhance resource conservation 

on the land, while addressing waste 

management issues and improving the 

effi ciency of their dairy operations at 

the same time.  ese eff orts improve 

the quality of the surrounding air and water, while providing a 

natural fertilizer for neighboring croplands. 

Last year, Oregon NRCS and the conservation partnership 

helped land managers to establish 23 waste storage facilities. 

 ese facilities store waste from dairy cattle until it can be safely 

applied as fertilizer on nearby crop fi elds.  is process reduces 

the amount of waste that could potentially enter streams and 

rivers, while also minimizing commercial fertilizer applications 

on croplands. 

In addition to helping land managers develop the facilities, 

NRCS and the conservation partners also design the delivery 

system from the waste management facility to the fi eld, and 

assist producers in determining when and where the resulting 

fertilizer should be applied. In total, the partnership helped 

animal feeding operations manage waste on 4,864 acres in 

Oregon. 

15
Livestock and Wildlife Health

In 2003, the conservation 

partnership worked with land 

managers to improve wildlife 

habitat on over 180 s r 180 square miles 

of land in Oregon.

Improving Wildlife Habitat in Oregon

Of all the vertebrate wildlife species found in the United States 

and Canada, more than 40 percent dwell on Oregon’s diverse 

landscapes - either temporarily or on a permanent basis. 

Hundreds of these species benefi t from the habitat created 

by agricultural lands. Migratory birds like the 

American White Pelican and the Red-necked 

Grebe use croplands in the Klamath Basin as a stop 

on the Pacifi c Flyway. Deer and elk graze on wheat 

and barley fi elds and pheasants use both crop and 

rangelands for their nesting and feeding grounds. 

Last year, the conservation partnership worked 

with land managers to improve wildlife habitat on 116,316 

acres of land, or about 181.7 square miles in the state. In 

addition to using working agricultural lands for wildlife habitat, 

landowners and land managers also set aside 2,701 acres 

for wetland habitat, and 88,501 acres of highly erodible 

croplands and other environmentally sensitive lands for 

wildlife habitat.

Producers utilize a variety of means to improve wildlife 

habitat. Managing grazing lands can enhance plant species 

and diversity, improving the food source for both livestock 

and wildlife. Establishing buff ers by planting grasses and trees 

along streams reduces erosion and nutrient runoff into the 

water, as well as reducing pesticide applications near water, 

which protects critical water habitat for aquatic wildlife species. 

Producers establish habitat in the corners of fi elds where 

irrigation systems don’t reach, and plant trees that serve both as 

a windbreak and as habitat for birds and other wildlife. 

 ese and other land management practices are creating a 

healthy, diverse environment for wildlife across Oregon.

16
Livestock and Wildlife Health

e conservation partnership 

in Oregon helped to establish 

nearly 6,400 a y 6,400 acres of 

conservation buffers to improve 

habitat for threatened and 

endangered species last year.

Protecting Endangered Species in Oregon

 e diversity and unique nature of Oregon’s many landscapes 

lends itself to a wide variety of plant and animal species, some 

of which are threatened or endangered. Over 40 percent of the 

wildlife habitat in the state is found on non-federal forestlands, 

croplands, rangelands and other rural lands. Natural resource 

conservation on these and all lands in Oregon goes hand-inhand with the enhancement of threatened and endangered 

species habitat. 

Over the past year, the conservation partnership worked with 

many landowners, managers, nonprofi t organizations, and 

state and federal agencies to ensure that the projects completed 

on private land improve habitat for endangered species.  e 

partnership assisted land managers in creating, restoring or 

enhancing 3,446 acres of wetlands and establishing 6,382 

acres of conservation buff ers.  is 

includes planting willows and other 

shrubs and grasses along streams 

and rivers to help moderate stream 

temperatures for aquatic species 

while reducing the amount of soil 

entering the water.

In addition, landowners and land 

managers installed fi sh screens 

on irrigation diversions to reduce the number of salmon and 

other species that enter irrigation systems.  ey placed woody 

debris and boulders in streams and rivers to provide habitat 

for aquatic species, and reduced the slope of the banks along 

streams and rivers to lower the potential for soil erosion.

17
Sustaining Oregon’s Economy

Contributing to the Sustainability of Oregon’s 

Rural Communities

With over 200 commodities grown in the state, agriculture is 

one of Oregon’s largest and most diverse industries, providing 

jobs for 1 in 12 Oregonians. Agricultural 

production contributes nearly $4 billion in cash 

receipts to Oregon’s economy each year. When 

combined with food processing and agricultural 

exports, the total economic benefi t reaches 

$8 billion. 

Farmers, ranchers, nursery operators and others 

form the base of Oregon agriculture.  eir 

ability to remain on the land directly impacts the sustainability 

of their local communities and the environment. When 

agricultural producers remain economically viable, they are 

better able to spend the time and money needed to conserve 

natural resources on Oregon’s landscapes.

NRCS, through the state’s eight Resource Conservation and 

Development (RC&D) councils, works to ensure that both 

environmental and economic sustainability are considered 

when assisting agricultural producers. Last year, local RC&D 

councils coordinated a number of community development 

projects.  ese diverse projects range from assisting canola 

growers in fi nding new niche markets to coordinating 

educational events for the development of renewable energy 

and fi nding new markets for small diameter timber. 

 rough these projects, RC&Ds bring together diverse 

local groups and individuals with a vested interest in their 

communities. Working together, these leaders identify and 

develop their local economic strengths, providing a sustainable 

economic base for future generations.

RC&D councils help communities 

assess and utilize their local 

economic strengths, resulting 

in innovative concepts like new 

markets for bio-fuels and small 

diameter timber. 

18
Conservation by the Numbers - Fiscal Year 2003

19

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

General EQIP

EQIP Ground & 

Surface Water 

Program

Basin Totals

Basin $$ Contracts $$ Contracts $$ Contracts

Central Coast/

Upper Willamette -- -- $ 848,001 23 $ 848,001 23

Deschutes $ 501,505 17 $ 1,147,125 38 $ 1,648,630 55

High Desert $ 73,439 5 $ 698,896 13

$ 5,446,935 74 Klamath* -- -- $ 4,674,600 56

John Day/ 

Umatilla $ 455,020 14 $ 1,339,706 47 $ 1,794,726 61

Lower Willamette $ 157,910 1 $ 1,246,748 24 $ 1,404,658 25

North Coast -- -- $ 832,201 15 $ 832,201 15

Snake River $ 453,696 9 $ 1,189,243 32 $ 1,642,939 41

Southwest 

Oregon $ 178,436 5 $ 730,732 21 $ 909,168 26

Totals $ 1,820,006 51 $ 8,032,652 213 $ 12,046,427 320

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)**

*Special funding designated for Klamath Basin Ground & Surface Water Program

Basin $$ Contracts

Central Coast/Upper Willamette $10,896 1

High Desert $432,250 2

John Day/ Umatilla $590,505 5

Lower Willamette $34,944 2

Snake River $252,514 5

Totals $1,321,109 15

**Only basins with GRP, FRPP, WHIP & WRP contracts are listed in the tables.
 Conservation by the Numbers

20

Wildlife Habitat Incentives 

Program (WHIP)**

Basin $$ Contracts

Deschutes $ 36,248 1

John Day/ Umatilla $ 100,000 1

Lower Willamette $ 113,752 2

Snake River $ 20,000 2

Totals $ 270,000 6

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)**

Basin $$ Contracts

Central Coast/Upper Willamette $ 1,966,329 4

Lower Willamette $ 3,403,175 9

North Coast $ 1,110,000 2

Snake River $ 844,393 2

Totals $ 7,323,897 17

Farm and Ranchland Protection 

Program (FRPP) ** 

Basin $$ Contracts

High Desert $ 900,000 1

John Day/ Umatilla $ 255,000 1

Totals $ 1,155,000 2

**Only basins with GRP, FRPP, WHIP & WRP contracts are listed in the tables.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political 

beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of 

program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To fi le a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, 

Director, Offi ce of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an 

equal opportunity provider and employer.”